New rules proposed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will not adequately protect Bald and Golden Eagles. The agency issued new regulations that grant wind companies 30-year permits to kill Bald and Golden Eagles. There are virtually no proven mitigation options available to protect eagles. And there is no real oversight of the wind industry’s efforts to mitigate eagle deaths.
Given the situation, Audubon asks you to please send public comments to oppose 30-year permits. And please hurry, the deadline to comment is July 5.
USFWS says that it will review wind farms every five years even under the 30-year permits. But the agency does not have the resources to monitor sites or to thoroughly review the effectiveness of each site’s avoidance and mitigation measures every five years. The Bald Eagle—the very symbol of America—and the majestic Golden Eagle deserve strong protection, and a program that provides 30-year permits without proven mitigation measures available and without adequate oversight is just not good enough.
Audubon does not oppose wind pwer; in fact, we’re all for it. But wind energy, like all other energy development, needs to be done carefully. Audubon supports wind energy development, just not 30-year permits for killing eagles with no real prospect of mitigation if things don’t work out as they should initially.